On February 1, 2024 ArteraAI, the developer of multimodal artificial intelligence (MMAI) based predictive and prognostic cancer tests, reported that it has secured an additional $20 million in capital fueled by several prominent large investment funds including Prosperity7 Ventures, Singapore-based global investor EDBI, Walden Catalyst Ventures, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, and Trium Ventures, along with investors Navin Chaddha, Rajiv Khemani (AISpace VC), and Andrew & Elliott Tan (A&E Investment LLC) (Press release, Artera, FEB 1, 2024, View Source [SID1234639808]).

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"The infusion of this additional funding is a crucial catalyst, propelling ArteraAI forward in its mission to personalize cancer therapy through AI-enabled predictive and prognostic tests," said Andre Esteva, CEO and Co-Founder of ArteraAI. "We are committed to ushering in the era of precision medicine, and stewarding this investment strategically to aid in our international expansion and commercial growth."

This funding announcement follows closely on the heels of ArteraAI’s recent achievement of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) decision on the payment rate for the ArteraAI Prostate Test. The decision helps to ensure broader accessibility to AI-enabled personalized care, benefiting a larger population.

"Investing in ArteraAI wasn’t just a financial decision, but a testament to ArteraAI which is globally revolutionizing patient care," said Abhishek Shukla at Prosperity7 Ventures. "We are thrilled to be part of the journey as ArteraAI continues its mission to provide patients with access to personalized cancer treatment plans."

Less than a year ago, ArteraAI emerged from stealth mode with an initial funding of $90M. Since then, the company has made significant strides, obtaining a Medicare payment rate, growing distribution and establishing a solid foundation for international expansion through strategic global partnerships to continue its research.

"ArteraAI’s AI-driven tests represent a transformative approach to designing tailored cancer care regimens. This offers a glimpse into the future where cancer care is truly personalized, aligning with Singapore’s efforts to digitize healthcare and harness AI to enable precision medicine," said Dr. Jolene Ooi, Senior Principal at EDBI. "We are excited to be part of their growth story and look forward to supporting its foray into Asia."

To learn more about ArteraAI visit Artera.ai.

On February 1, 2024 Hoffmann-La Roche reported its full year and fourth quarter 2023 results (Press release, Hoffmann-La Roche, FEB 1, 2024, View Source [SID1234639965]).

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On February 1, 2024 Deciphera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: DCPH), a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing important new medicines to improve the lives of people with cancer, reported that members of the management team will participate in a fireside chat at the Guggenheim Healthcare Talks 6th Annual Biotechnology Conference on Thursday, February 8, 2024 at 9:00 AM ET in New York, NY (Press release, Deciphera Pharmaceuticals, FEB 1, 2024, View Source [SID1234639774]).

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A live webcast of the fireside chat will be available on the "Events and Presentations" page in the "Investors" section of the Company’s website at View Source A replay of the webcast will be archived on the Company’s website for 90 days following the presentation.

On February 1, 2024 RS Oncology (RSO), a clinical stage biotechnology company developing innovative therapies to eradicate mesothelioma and other diseases, reported the successful dosing of the first patient in the Phase 2 dose expansion portion of its United Kingdom multicenter study (MITOPE; NCT05278975) (Press release, RS Oncology, FEB 1, 2024, View Source [SID1234639791]).

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Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) is the build up of fluid in the lining membrane (pleura) of the lungs. MPE is a common clinical symptom in patients with various malignancies (~15% of end-stage cancer patients) and produces significant morbidity in the majority of affected patients. RSO’s novel, investigational anti-cancer treatment, RSO-021, is administered weekly directly into the pleural space following MPE drainage via an indwelling pleural catheter. RSO recently (4Q 2023) completed the Phase 1 dose escalation portion of its MITOPE trial and established a recommended Phase 2 dose and safety/tolerability profile of RSO-021 in a relapse setting.

Recently, RSO has expanded the Phase 2 portion of MITOPE and is now investigating RSO-021 anticancer activity in patients:

First presenting with MPE due to malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) and before standard-of-care (SOC) treatment (a window of opportunity arm).

With MPE who have failed first line SOC treatment and have relapsed disease.

With local metastatic lung disease and MPE.

With MPE due to advanced metastatic breast, ovarian and non-small cell lung cancers (in combination with systemic paclitaxel).

"Mesothelioma has notoriously been a difficult cancer to treat, especially since patients are often diagnosed in the more advanced stages," said Prof. Dean Fennell, Director of the Mesothelioma Research Programme at Leicester University Hospitals. "RSO-021 exhibits a unique mechanism of action that we believe could provide new hope to patients with this disease."

"RSO-021 is an exciting novel anti-cancer treatment that can potentially help a global population of cancer patients who are left with little to no options," said Jarrett Duncan, CEO of RS Oncology. "Commencing the Phase 2 portion of our trial presents a major milestone for patients and their caregivers."

About RSO-021

RSO-021 is a novel small molecule treatment that irreversibly binds mitochondrial peroxiredoxin 3 (PRX3). Preclinical studies with RSO-021 have shown that inhibition of the antioxidant signaling network results in selective killing of malignant cells by upregulating oxidative stress; in contrast, healthy cells are spared.

On February 1, 2024 Defence Therapeutics Inc. ("Defence" or the "Company"), one of the leading Canadian biotechnology companies working in the field of immune-oncology, reported the closing of the 1st tranche of its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") of units of the Company (the "Units") at a price of $1.50 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of $850,500.00 (the "Closing") (Press release, Defence Therapeutics, FEB 1, 2024, View Source;utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=defence-therapeutics-completes-1st-tranche-of-financing [SID1234639775]). Each Unit consists of one common share in the capital of the Company (each, a "Share") and one common share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant").
Each Warrant is exercisable to acquire one Share at an exercise price of $2.00 per Share on or before January 30th, 2026 (the "Warrant Expiry Date").

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In connection with the Closing, the Company paid a cash finder’s fee of $68,040.00 and issued 45,360 finder’s warrants (the "Finder’s Warrants") to a certain qualified arm’s length finder. Each Finder’s Warrant is exercisable into one Share at an exercise price of $2.00 per Share on or before the Warrant Expiry Date.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering to advance its preclinical and clinical programs, including as previously announced the Phase I clinical trial of Defence’s AccuTOX administered intratumorally in patients with stage IIIB to IV melanoma, and for general working capital.

All securities issued in connection with the Offering are subject to a statutory hold period of four months plus a day from their date of issue in accordance with applicable securities legislation.

The securities being referred to in this news release have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States (U.S.) Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the U.S. or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.